Richard Lee Hatlestad 1952-2012

HATLESTAD PETERSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/26/2012 at 20:49:19

Sioux City Journal
May 15, 2012

SIOUX CITY | Richard Lee Hatlestad, 60, of Sioux City passed away suddenly Saturday, May 12, 2012, at his residence.

Abiding by family wishes, cremation has taken place. Visitation with the family will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Inurnment will be in Graceland Park Cemetery.

Richard was born on March 28, 1952, in Sioux City, to AnnaMae Petersen (Hatlestad) Sawatzky and Raymond Hatlestad, stepson to Walter T. Sawatzky. He was raised in Sioux City, Fort Worth, Texas, and Sioux Falls, S.D. Richard was a lead singer and acoustic guitar player in a neighborhood band while attending Riverside High School in Sioux City, of which he was a graduate. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a military police officer while in Panama.

Following his honorable discharge, Richard returned to Sioux City, where he performed as local singer Lee Richards. He was employed by Kind & Knox Gelatin in Sergeant Bluff from 1979 to 1995, Labor Ready as a laborer from 1997 to 2000, and as a security guard with First Class Security from 2004 to 2010. He was previously married in Sioux City and later divorced. Richard was currently working as a security guard with CF Industries in Sergeant Bluff.

He loved his family, animals, singing and listening to music. Richard enjoyed traveling to the mountains in Colorado and having family cookouts. He was a caring and loyal brother and went out of his way to help others.

Richard is survived by his sister, Sheila A. Sawatzky and Bill Julius of Sioux City; brothers, Ronald and his wife, Aurea "Lani" of Hutto, Texas, and Bruce and his wife, Debbie of Denver, Colo.; one niece; two nephews; several grandnieces and nephews; and many cousins.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, and stepfather.